Article of furniture



March 7, 1950 c, w 'Ns 2,499,773

ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Dec. 12, 1946 Kg I J Charlotte I? Owens Fig.3. Z v y WWW 3m Patented Mar. 7, 1950 UNITED PATENT OFFICE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Charlotte P. Owens, San Antonio, Tex.

Application December 12, 1946, Serial No. 715,861

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in furniture, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herein described which may be conveniently and effectively employed for a plurality of different uses, namely, as a toilet step-up platform for children, as a bathroom seat, and as a conventional table in any room of the home.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article of furniture which may be readily converted from one functional utility to another.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an article of furniture which is simple in construction, pleasing in appearance and which will not readily become damaged.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of manufacture which will readily lend itself to economical manufacture and which is otherwise well adapted for the various purposes for which it is intended.

With the above and more important objects in view and such other objects as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the construction and arrangement of parts as shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention, showing the same in use as a table.

Figure 2 is a further perspective View thereof, showing the invention in use as a step-up platform or bathroom seat.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view, taken in the plane 333-3 in Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 in Figure 3.

Like characters of reference are used to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of an article of furniture designated generally by the reference character In, the same embodying in its construction a body H consisting, in effect, of two quadrilateral, superimposed sections I2, l3 which constitute what may be referred to as a cabinet.

The sections l2, l3 are so arranged that the body H forms a relatively fiat surface 14 on one side, while its remaining side defines a plurality of steps, as will be clearly apparent from the accompanying drawings. This step-like formation is achieved by making the sections l2, l3 of relatively different length, the purpose thereof being hereinafter more fully explained.

A reversible drawer I5 is slidably positioned in the section l2 of the cabinet, while a similar drawer I6 is slidably positioned in the section I3.

Finally, a pair of spaced parallel side rails I! are secured to the body I I adjacent the aforementioned steps, as will be clearly apparent.

When the invention is placed in use, the same may be disposed in an upright position as indicated in Figure 1, wherein it will be noted that the side rails ll function as legs for supporting the body I l in an elevated position. As such, the device may be conveniently employed as a conventional table, the drawers l5 and It being used in the well known manner.

Referring now to the accompanying Figure 2, the device is shown in an inverted position for use as a step-up platform whereby children may conveniently gain access to the toilet seat. When so employed, the cabinet sections 12 and I 3 will function as steps and the side rails ll may be easily grasped while ascending or descending the steps.

In this inverted position, the device may also be employed as a bathroom seat, the exposed surfaces l8 and IQ of the sections l2 and I3, respectively, functioning as the seating platform, while the members 11 may be effectively employed as robe rails.

It should be also pointed out that when the device is in its inverted position as shown in Figure 2, the drawers l5, l6 should be reversed so that the utility thereof is not sacrificed.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly apparent from the foregoing disclosure, and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is considered unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

An invertible article of furniture adapted for selective use as a stepped platform and a table, comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped side members disposed in spaced parallel relation and having flat bight portions, a block-shaped body secured between the outer end portions of said members, said body having a flat outer surface and an inner surface consisting of a plurality of steps, each step extending transversely between said pair of members whereby each member is disposed at one side of the run of steps, the flat surface of said body providing a table top when said article rests on the flat bight portions of said members, and said bight portions being disposed at a substantial height above the uppermost step 3 4 and providing a. set of guide rails for a, person UNITED STATES PATENTS standing on said steps when said article is resting Numb Name Date the fiat surface Sald D. 147,350 Raffman Aug. 19, 1947 CHARLOTTE P. OWENS.

5 OTHER REFERENCES REFERENCES CITED Lloyd Chromium Furniture Catalog, No. 41-A, The following references are of record in the copyright 1941, page 33, appointment desk shown file of this patent: at AD-29-11,Designs Div. 

